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New Member
posted Jun 3, 2019 5:21:47 PM

Form 2106 Line 16b from both copies of the Employee Home Office Worksheet, when added together, must equal line 16a. what has to add up to line 16A

form 2106 Line 16b from both copies of the Employee Home Office Worksheet, when added together, must equal line 16a. what lines has to add up to line 16A

1 28 8760
24 Replies
Intuit Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 5:21:49 PM

When you have two employee home offices, the total employee expenses from the Home Office Wks line 16a must be divvied up between the two offices: how much of the total belongs to Office #1 line 16b? How much to Office #2 line 16b? Only you have the information to allocate the total expenses between the two.

Level 2
Mar 16, 2020 1:11:07 AM

I only have one home office, (well I deleted once and added again), how do I solve this?

I tried to print all the forms, I found out the value 16b will never changed even if I modify some values of my cost.

the error appears when I tried to file CA state tax.

 

Expert Alumni
Mar 16, 2020 1:53:54 PM

Where are you entering the expenses for the home office? 

California allows adjustments for Federal Form 2106, (employee expenses) but home office is no longer on that form. 

Level 2
Mar 16, 2020 8:59:24 PM

I entered home office Federal Deductions & Credits, it doesn't affect federal refund, it changed CA refund, but when I tried to file, I got error on Form 2106. and the error didn't go away even if I delete the homeoffice entry.

Level 2
Mar 16, 2020 9:01:58 PM

I guess I probably tried to fix the problem by entering some number, and the number stays there somehow even if I modified home office or delete home office

Expert Alumni
Mar 17, 2020 10:42:05 AM

Try deleting the form 2106.

 

If using an online version:

 

1.  Click "Tax Tools" in the left hand menu

2.  Click "Tools" in the left hand menu

3.  Click "Delete a form" in the center screen

4.  Find the form 2106 and "Delete"

5.  There will also be a CA form 2106 as well to delete.

 

Level 2
Mar 17, 2020 7:20:14 PM

Left Hand menu is empty (all white), I'm using mac version FPS 4.2.7.8

 

 

Level 2
Mar 17, 2020 7:47:35 PM

I saw different values on Form 2106 by following different ways:

1) click "Form" Icon on the menu

2) Print -> PDF file and go to Form 2106

 

Did I hit a rare bug caused by rare combination of actions?

 

Expert Alumni
Mar 18, 2020 6:45:55 PM

In general, this deduction is no longer available for W-2 employees. Therefore, you will not see a change to your Federal refund.

 

The business deductions on Form 2106 are allowed for Armed Forces reservist, a qualified performing artist, a fee-basis state or local government official, or an individual with a disability claiming impairment-related work expenses. All other taxpayers can no longer deduct these expenses beginning in tax year 2018. However, some states still allow the deduction. You would enter these expenses on your Federal return to carry to the state.

 

To try to delete, follow these steps:

  • Under the Federal menu, choose Deductions & Credits
  • Expand the menu for Employment Expenses
  • Click Start/Revisit next to Job Expenses for W-2 Income
  • You should be able to delete any information entered and then return to this area to re-enter the deductions that will apply to your state return.

Form 2106

Intuit Alumni
Mar 19, 2020 12:51:18 PM

You said the error is in your TT Calif return - TT Calif has its own copies of the Employee Home Office Wks. If two of those exist then you will get that "line 16a" must be allocated error. The presence of a federal Emp. Home Office Wks will cause TT Calif to generate a corresponding copy.

Look in your TT Calif return and if there are two copies of that Wks then delete the extra copy, making sure your federal return doesn't have an extra copy first.

Level 2
Mar 19, 2020 7:06:59 PM

no, it doesn't work.

even if I deleted all entries in employee expenses, smart check still failed. 

 

Intuit Alumni
Mar 24, 2020 4:15:09 PM

That error cannot happen unless there are two copies of the Employee Home Office Wks. The program counts the number of copies of it. If more than one copy exists for that Form 2106 (the program doesn't know how to count the number of copies of a form wrong), and there has been no allocation between the two copies, then show that error.

Level 2
Mar 25, 2020 11:54:01 AM

Well, I don't know what to do. 

I was able to file Federal tax without issues, doesn't let me to file state (CA)

Intuit Alumni
Mar 26, 2020 1:11:16 PM

TT Calif has an extra copy of the form that needs to be deleted.

The post at this link will tell you how to delete a form in TurboTax Online:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894474-how-do-i-delete-a-tax-form-in-turbotax-online

New Member
Mar 27, 2020 5:02:51 PM

Hi! Did you get this resolved? Having the same problems. Working on TurboTax desktop on Mac. Cant find how to delete form 2106. Please help!

Level 2
Mar 31, 2020 9:44:30 AM

still not yet resolved.

I have e-filed federal, planning to file CA by mail due to this bug

Level 2
Mar 31, 2020 9:57:58 AM

to @TurboTax,

After 10+ years using online version by one of your competitors, I decided to switch to turbotax for the first time, I was really disappointed. I request money back!

 

Level 2
Mar 31, 2020 10:12:19 AM

the steps specified there was not helpful at all, the popup window is all white, you guys have serious bug for mac version. 

New Member
Mar 31, 2020 1:17:29 PM

I got the same error message. I deleted Form 2106 Adj. Works - Employee home OFfice works from STATE only. Refund stayed the same and error is fixed. thank you 

Level 2
Mar 31, 2020 2:05:54 PM

finally, I played with turbotax and find a way to delete a form (the instructions that on TurboTax's web site doesn't work for Mac version)

1. click big "Form" icon at top-left corner 

2. a list of form will be listed at left panel

3. select the one you want to delete (in my case there was a empty home office worksheet accidentally added somehow, but not visible on "EasyStep" view.

4. press "delete" button on your Mac (nothing on the menu, no right-click popup menu)

 

New Member
Apr 17, 2020 8:29:55 AM

The home office deduction has been has been removed for Fed for W-2 employees?   My wife has 2 home offices and making the worksheets play nice has always been an issue.  

Level 2
Jun 6, 2021 12:59:57 AM

There seem to be numerous problems with the 2106 CA form. I just posted a problem similar but different

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/state-taxes/discussion/tt-not-calculating-ca-2106-correctly/00/2309955

 

SCH CA 540 Unreimbursed employee expenses is a completely diff number than whats on the CA 2106. 

Any help? 

New Member
Feb 21, 2022 2:21:10 PM

My 2106 keeps asking for 16b to be equal on both copies of the employee home office worksheet.  I am a sole owner not an employee.  How can I fix this?  It is very frustrating

Expert Alumni
Feb 21, 2022 6:36:33 PM

It's called an employee home office work sheet because you are self-employed.  So the employee is you in this case.

 

Line 16b is dividing the home office deduction into two for two businesses.  If you have two businesses then this is fine.  You're cutting your home office expense in half and it should be the same on both.

 

If you don't have two businesses then you entered your home office twice and you need to delete the form 2106.

 

To delete a form-

1.  Click "Tax Tools" in the left hand menu

2.  Click "Tools" in the left hand menu

3.  Click "Delete a form" in the center screen

4.  Find the form 2106 and "Delete"